Lawn sprinkler system



Nov. 21, 1950 M. BECKER LAWN SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed June 29, 1948 FIG.5

lNVE NTOR MORRIS BECKER Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED LAWN SPRINKLER SYSTEM Morris Becker, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Federal Auto Products C0,, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application June 29, 1948, Serial No. 35,874

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a lawn sprinkler system of small size which may be easily installed by the user in the lawn of a home or elsewhere.

Heretofore lawn sprinkler systems have been expensive and difficult to install, requiring the services of skilled plumbers and the installation of special pumping equipment so that the cost is far beyond the reach of the average home owner. It is among the objects of my invention to provide a home-owner lawn sprinkler system for homes, which may be installed by the home owner himself with no tools other than a wrench, with the system operating from the normal home water pressure without special pumping equipment, resulting in a lawn sprinkler system which is within the budget of any home owner.

It is among the further objects of my invention to provide such a sprinkler system which is constructed entirely of non-ferrous materials, so that the parts beneath the ground will not rust; to construct such a system in which each of the parts is easily replaceable; to provide a drain for the system which operates automatically without the turning of any valves and to provide a sprinkler system which is automatic in operation and which does not interfere with the use and enjoyment of the lawn, or the mowing of grass growing thereon.

The entire installation of my lawn sprinkler system is simple and economical. It is within the skill and the budget of virtually every home owner. In addition to homes, it may be used in the grounds of apartments, parks, institutions, school grounds, tennis courts, athletic fields, gardens, nurseries, truck farms and any other place where an automatic sprinkler system is desirable.

All of the component parts of my sprinkler system are made of non-ferrous metals, so that there is no problem of rust or corrosion. The system operates automatically on the house water pressure, without the installation of expensive pumps. If more than one installation is made in a yard, the systems may be operated alternately to cover the entire yard with water.

The sprinkler heads used with my system are level with the ground, so that there is no interference with the normal use of the lawn for parties or games, and the lawn may be cut in the normal manner. When the water is turned on, the sprinkler heads rise above the surface of the ground and submerge when the water is turned oif.

My invention also comprises such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear, and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet it is understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of my automatic underground sprinkler system installed in a lawn; Fig. 2 is a detailed perspective view of my junction fitting and attached parts; Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of my sprinkler head in operation; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of my sprinkler head; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my hose coupler; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of my sleeve and fitting construction for connecting copper tubing; Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of my sleeve and fitting construction in connected position and Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional View of my drain valve.

A preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a water intake tube In, which is preferably made of copper tubing. Water intake tube 10 is curved in a modified S shape so that in use one end projects above the surface of the ground, while the other end is buried approximately three inches beneath the surface. The end above the ground is provided with a hose coupler l l, which is screw threaded to receive the end of a garden hose. Within hose coupler I l adjacent the screw threads are a rubber washer l2 and an intake filter l3, which is composed of fine mesh bronze screen. In operation, the end of the home garden hose is attached to hose coupler H and intake filter I3 prevents impurities from entering the sprinkler system.

The other end of water intake tube In is screw threaded for attachment to a junction fitting I4, which is a five way brass junction fitting. When my lawn sprinkler system has been installed, junction fitting It is positioned approximately three inches beneath the surface of the ground. Junction fitting I4 is provided with four side outlets at right angles to each other. Water intake tube Ill is attached to one of these outlets. Three copper water distribution tubes l5, l6 and I1 are attached by screw threading to the other side outlets of junction fitting I4. Distribution tubes l5, l6 and I! are preferably composed of copper tubing in lengths of approximately nine feet.

The fifth outlet of junction fitting I4 is perpendicular to the side outlets. Attached by screw threads to this outlet is a brass sprinkler head l8. Sprinkler head "3 is provided with a cylindrical base I9, which is screw threaded on the inside of its lower end. At the opposite end of sprinkler head I8 is a circular support 20, which has a larger diameter than cylindrical base l9. The length of cylindrical base I9 is such that circular support 29 rests just above the surface of the ground and serves to prevent sprinkler head [8 from sinking beneath the surface. The edges of circular support 29 are beveled so as to prevent interference with the mowing of the lawn.

Housed within cylindrical base l9 of sprinkler head I8 is a sleeve 2|, which is open at its lower end and has at its opposite end an atomizer 22. Sleeve 2| is normally housed within cylindrical base 19. When water enters my sprinkler system, the water pressure against the top of sleeve 2| forces sleeve 2| to move upwardly until its top projects more than an inch above the ground.

Atomizer 22 then causes the water tobe sprayed in a circle radially fromthetop of sleeve 2!.

:Atomizer22 of sprinkler head I8 provides four .jets-of water which strike. against each other and break the water into a mist. In the center-of atomizer 22 is a spray control 23, adapted to be operatedby a screw driver to control the fineness of-the spray emerging from atomizer.22.

Water distributiton tubes !5 and [6 lead from opposite sides of junction fitting M to points approximately nine .feet away from junction fitting It. At the ends ofdistribution-tubes l5 and Iii are attached elbow terminals 2d and 25.

The copper tubing usedinmy device is attached to the fittings through the use of a sleeve 28,

sprinkler system are-sprinkler heads 29 andii9,

which areidenticalin construction and operation =with sprinkler head ll 8, which has been previously described.

Distribution tube L-which is attached to junctionfitting l4 onthelopposite sidefrom waterin- -take tube l9, leads tea-point approximately-nine feet away from junctionfitting i i. The end of distribution tube ll isattached by screw thread- .ing to one side of a five way drain fitting 39, which is similar in construction to junction fittingM.

The upright outlet of drain fitting 3D islpro- .vided witha, sprinkler head 3!, whichis identical with sprinkler head l8. Attached to-the sideoutlets of drain fittingtil by screw threading-are the ends of distribution tubes32 and .33 which lead to points approximately nine feet away from drain fitting 39. Attached to each of the opposite ends of distribution tubes 32 and 33 by screw threading are elbow terminals 34 and .35, which are identical with elbow terminals 2 4 and :25. Attached toelbow terminals 34-and 3 5 by screw threading are sprinkler heads 39 and 35, which are identical with sprinkler head i8.

Attached by'screw threading'to theside outlet -.of drainfitting 39 opposite distributiontube il is .an-automaticdrain valve 38, with an'open end. Housed within drain valve 38 area brass ball.39

and a bronze spring 40. Spring 40 normally -holds ball .39 away from -the.open end of drain valve 38. When water passesthroughzmysprinkler system, the force of the waterpressurecauses sand or gravel toprovide a firmbase.

ball 39 to move outwardly to seal the open end of drain valve 38. When the water is turned off and the pressure is reduced, spring 49 forces ball 39 away from the open end of drain valve 38. Water may then flow around ball 39 and out of the open end of drain valve 38. Air to replace the water enters through sprinkler heads [8, 29, 49, 3|,36and 31.

The preferable method of installing my sprinkler system is to first assemble all of the component parts described above. The copper tubing of the water distribution tubes may, if desired, be bent or curved to accommodate the layout of the lawn. All of the fittings used in my system are solderless compression fittings which become sealed withzthe use of only a wrench. No other .tools are necessary, and no skill is necessary beyond that possessed by the average home owner. The services of a skilled plumber are not required.

After-theassembly of thepartshasbeen completed, the ground should .be marked in the places wherethe parts will beburied. The sprinkler assemblyniay then be set to one sideand a narrow trench dug approximately three and onehalf inches deep along the lines marked. The turfmay be saved forreplacement after .the system has been installed.

The bottom of the trenchshould befilled with Thesprinkler system may then be setdown in the trench and the ground replaced. The turf .may be set over the trench, where it will again take root. Additional sand orgravel shouldbeprovidedadjacent the automatic drain valve to provide for the disposal of the drainwater andpreventclogging of the drain valve.

Having thus described myinvention, Iclaim:

A sub-suriaceautomatic lawn sprinklersystem composed-entirely of non-rusting .parts, installable bya home owner without the useo'fplumbers tools other than a wrench, comprising a water intake tube, alive-way junctionfitting .havingan inlet attached to one end of said water intake .sprayers attached to said top outlet and to the opposite endsof said water distribution tubes, a third water distribution tube attached to said .front outlet, a four-way junction'fitting attached to'the opposite end of said third water distribut tion tube directly opposite the five-wayjunction fitting, said four-way vjunctionfitting having a second ,pairoiside outletstransverse to said third water distribution tube .and a vertical outlet, a second pair of water distributitontubes attached to said second .pair of side outlets, said second pair of water distribution tubes extending parallel'to the first pair of said water distribution tubes, water sprayers attached to the opposite ends-of each of said second-pair of waterdistribution tubes and to "the vertical outlet 'of said four-way junction fitting, all of said water sprayers having 1 a housing containing itlierein a.mov-

.able sleeve, said sleeveszhaving .atomizersat their :upperends, saidwater intake tube adapted to'be to move upwardly upon and while receiving pressure from water flowing into said sprayers and against the upper ends of said sleeves, said atomizers causing water flowing through said sleeves to be sprayed outwardly in radial sprays from the upper ends of all of said sprayers to sprinkle the lawn.

MORRIS BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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